Chinese high-speed trains arriving in Indonesia

The first set of bullet trains and an inspection train for the high-speed railway network linking Jakarta, Indonesia, with Bandung, in the country's West Java province, were delivered by ship from Qingdao, Shandong province, on Sunday.

CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co, which developed the trains, said the shipment was a milestone marking the official launch of Chinese bullet train exports.

The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway, a landmark project of the Belt and Road Initiative, is the first high-speed rail project overseas to fully use Chinese technology, standards and equipment, said Ma Qiang, deputy general manger of overseas business department of CRRC Qingdao Sifang.

The project includes a total of 11 sets of trains and an inspection train based on the advanced, mature technologies of China-made Fuxing bullet trains. They can operate at speeds up to 350 kilometers per hour.

CRRC Qingdao Sifang has also made changes to adapt to the local environment and routes in Indonesia and has incorporated Indonesian cultural elements to give passengers a more comfortable traveling experience.

The first shipments are expected to be complete by the end of August, with delivery of the remainder to follow in batches by the beginning of 2023, according to the company, which is based in Qingdao, Shandong province.

When open to traffic, the new line, with a total length of 142 kilometers, is expected to be the first high-speed railway in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.